Over the past few years I’ve had a lot of trouble with my skin. When I was in my teens I never worried about it, but since I hit 18/19 it feels like it’s been one thing after another. Between psoriasis, eczema, sun allergies, and acne, my skin has been on my mind quite often over the past 5 or so years. I’ve tried all sorts of medication, treatments and products for each. This year I decided it was time to look into diet..although I would have thought I had a quite balanced diet, I wanted to have a look at what foods are good for keeping skin healthy.

heres what I found:

Dark berries – deliciously full of antioxidants that may help to clear up blemishes. Strawberries are particularly good for delaying skins ageing because they are chockablock with vitamin C (more per serving than an orange). Vitamin C aids collagen production as well as fighting ‘free radicals’, which damage cells and break down collagen, leading to fine lines forming.

Nuts – Acne has been often linked with a deficiency in minerals such as zinc and selenium, which most nuts are bursting with. Along with Vitamin E, copper, magnesium, potassium, calcium and iron..which are all needed for skin health and function. Studies suggest that a selenium-rich diet can help to protect against skin cancer, sun damage, and age spots. Nuts are such a handy snack too, win-win!

Tomatoes – Tomatoes are rich in vitamin C, which helps to keep skin firm and taut. They also contain lycopene: the red pigment which not only gives them their bring red colour, but also stimulates skin circulation.

H2O – Water cleanses your body, helping to eliminate toxins. Water keeps skin hydrates, making it appear more plump and less wrinkled. Keeping hydrated is also very important for keeping stress levels low (a common contributor to breakouts). Everywhere I’ve looked has said the same thing…drink up!

Eggs – Full of nutrients and antioxidants. The antioxidants found in eggs help to preserve skin’s elasticity and prevent damage to skin cells. Choline is the name of a B vitamin found in eggs which helps to make up fatty portions of cell membranes and is essential for skin-cell functioning. Choline also helps your body to maintain proper levels of other B vitamins. This is so important because your skin needs B vitamins to produce energy and manufacture collagen and elastin (those rubbery proteins that keep skin looking and feeling firm and smooth).

Oily fish – The omega-3 fatty acids found in oily fish are great because they encourage your body to produce anti-inflammatory compounds, which can help with skin conditions such as eczema and psorasis. These essential fatty acids also act as a natural moisturiser for your skin, keeping it supple.